8/16/21 : Week Fifteen Standouts ( 8/10 to 8/15 )

Each Monday this year for the Phillies minor league full season affiliates is a scheduled off day. They get to re-charge from a six day run of games before starting on another stretch the next day.

Here’s a review of the past week with a spot light on players from each team who had good, even great numbers and performances.

Lehigh Valley ( Overall Record 41-46, 4-2 during the past week) - next series @ Rochester ( Nationals Affiliate )

OF Jorge Bonifacio - 8 for 20 ( .400 ) for the week with 2 doubles, a home run and four RBIs … he also drew 8 walks. Jorge is now hitting .319 ( 23 for 72 ) as an Iron Pig since being promoted on 7/22 from Reading. Between Reading and LHV he’s posted very solid season numbers … 18 doubles, 15 home runs, 54 RBIs and a .272 batting average in 243 AB’s … .918 OPS … the 28 year old has done very well.

Three other veterans had good weeks …

IF TJ Rivera ( 32 yrs old ) - 8 for 21 ( .381 ) for the week after being acquired from the Pirates on 8/7. IF Ruben Tejada ( 31 yrs old ) - 5 for 16 ( .313 ) and OF Charlie Tilson ( 28 yrs old ) - 5 for 14 ( .357 ) for the week.

Strong Pitching :

RH Mark Appel - Wednesday, 8/11 - 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K’s - 88 pitches - 54 strikes - another strong outing vs SWB - he’s pitched well against them … back on 6/25 he threw 5 scoreless innings - 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K’s

LH Christopher Sanchez - Tuesday, 8/10 - 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K’s & Sunday, 8/15 - 4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 5 BB, 3 K’s - continues to do well at the AAA level.

RH Adam Leverett - Friday, 8/13 - 6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K’s - spot start after call up from Reading … may have just earned an extended stay with his performance.

Reading ( Overall Record 34-56, 1-5 during the past week) - next series @ home vs Bowie ( Orioles Affiliate )

SS Bryson Stott - 8 for 24 ( .333 ) with 3 home runs and 5 RBIs … for the month of August he’s hitting .327 in 52 ABs with three doubles, a triple and three home runs.

Oscar Gonzalez - the 20 year old served in the DH role and went 5 for 11 ( .455 ) for the week with a hit in all four games he played. It’s Oscar’s first full season action as he was moved up from the FCL squad, I think he wants to stay 👍⚾️.

OF Josh Stephen - went 5 for 17 for the week with a triple, home run and three RBIs

Strong Pitching :

RH Hans Crouse - Saturday, 8/14 - 4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K’s … in two appearances for Reading since being acquired from the Texas Rangers he’s pitched twice - 9 1/3 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 5 BB, 11 K’s ( 0.96 ERA ). I’ve watched both games, I see a Halladay arm slot release and an ability to pitch, not just throw … he’s capable of high velocity when needed … the 22 year old seems to really have an idea how to attack hitters.

Jersey Shore ( Overall Record 40-49, 3-3 during the past week) - next series @ home vs Asheville ( Rockies Affiliate )

C Logan O’Hoppe - 7 for 18 ( .389 ) for the week with a double, home run and seven RBIs. On the season he’s hitting a solid .273/.338/.470 with 17 doubles, 2 triples, 13 home runs and 47 RBIs … strong season for the 21 year old.

1B/C Vito Friscia - 6 for 19 ( .316 ) for the week with a double, home run and four RBIs … has a four game hitting streak … for the season he’s hitting .265 with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs and 31 RBIs

OF Corbin Williams - 5 for 13 ( .385 ) for the week with a double and six stolen bases bringing his season total to 18. Corbin also played stellar defense in center field in the three games he was in. He’s got Roman Quinn like speed.

Strong Pitching :

On Saturday 8/14 I watched one of the best pitched games I’ve ever seen as Tyler McKaypitched six perfect innings, Manuel Silva tossed three no hit frames, Blake Brown yielded a hit but was stellar in two extra inning frames now allowing the placed runner to score and Mark Potter came up clutch striking out the side in the 12th to save a 2-0 one hit win ! Simply outstanding !

RH Tyler McKay - Saturday, 8/14 - 6 perfect IP - outstanding 💪👍 - 4 K’s - 54 pitches - 42 strikes - we’ve always liked his arm ( can pop mid nineties ) and moxy, great to see him put it together in this game. Has battled injuries in his brief career ( drafted 16th round - 2018 - Howard JC ) … we believe the talent is there, just has to stay healthy and find consistency.

RH Victor Vargas - Friday, 8/13 - 6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K’s … he’s pitched 5 innings or more in his last 4 starts in which he’s posted a 3-1 record with a 1.56 ERA ( 4 runs in 23 IP ). The 20 year old knows how to pitch and has quality stuff.

Manuel Silva - Tuesday, 8/10 - 3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 6 K’s and Saturday 8/14 - 3 no hit innings - 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K’s- hasn’t yielded a run in his last five appearances ( 10 1/3 IP - 3 hits )

Blake Brown - Wednesday, 8/11 - 1 perfect IP - 2 K’s & Saturday, 8/14 - 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s in two pressure packed extra innings ! - has a 1.42 ERA in five August appearances - 6 1/3 IP with 9 K’s - when he throws strikes he has dominant stuff, includes an upper nineties fastball 🔥

Clearwater ( Overall Record 39-45, 1-4 during the past week) - next series @ Bradenton ( Pirates Affiliate )

OF Johan Rojas - 6 for 13 ( .461 ) for the week including a game for the FCL Phillies on 8/13 where he homered and had three RBIs. Johan was placed on the IL on 7/24 when Covid issues caused multiple players to be sidelined in Clearwater. Good to see him return to action and coming back strong. He turned 21 years of age on 8/14.

Pro debuts this week for OF Ethan Wilson, IF Freylin Minyety and OF Jared Carr.

Strong Pitching :

LH Gabriel Cotto - Tuesday, 8/10 - 5 IP, 2 R - 1 earned, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K’s … three consecutive strong outings - 14 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 8 BB, 21 K’s - continued focus on harnessing command … the 21 year old has terrific action on his deliveries

RH Griff McGarry - Tuesday, 8/10 - 2 perfect IP - 4 K’s - 29 pitches - 20 strikes - 1st pro save & Sunday, 8/15 - 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 6 K’s … FB - 94-98 mph, curve - 81-84 mph, slider - 84 - 22 yr old 2021 5th round pick from University of Virginia

RH Andrew Baker - Friday, 8/13 - 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s - 29 pitches - 16 strikes - FB 96-99 mph … follows a shutout inning on 8/7 with 3 K’s - 21 yr old 2021 11th round pick from Chipola Junior College

Also pro debuts this week for RH Cam Wynne, RH Jason Ruffcorn & RH Alex McKenney

Florida Complex Phillies ( Overall Record 11-7, 1-1 during the past week)

The Complex team returned to action on Friday after an extended layoff dating back to 7/27 due to Covid issues. The first game featured multiple players on rehab assignments however 20 year old SS/2B Jamari Baylor also returned to action and hit two home runs in his first game. He went 3 for 5 in the two games with a double, 2 home runs and 3 walks.

Dominican Summer League Phillies :

Phillies Red ( Overall Record 12-11, 4-1 during the past week)

Jeury Corona - went 4 for 9 during the week in three games played, for the month of August the 19 year old is 7 for 19 ( .368 )

Rickardo Perez - returned to action for first time since 8/2 and went 3 for 4 in two games played. The 17 year old is hitting .342 ( 13 for 38 ) thus far this season.

Strong Pitching :

Tuesday, 8/10 : RHP Oswald Medina pitched five innings ( 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 8 K’s ), he’s posted a 1.80 ERA in 6 games ( 25 IP, 24 K’s, 1 BB 😳 )

Friday, 8/13 : RH Javier Fuenmayer pitched five scoreless innings ( 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K’s )

Phillies White ( Overall Record 15-7, 4-0 during the past week)

Erick Brito - 3 for 9 ( .333 ) for the week in three games, the 19 year old is hitting .367 ( 18 for 49 ) for the season.

Yemel Flores - returned to action for the first time since 7/26 and went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. The 17 year old is a highly touted player.

Strong Pitching :

Monday 8/9 : RHP Jean Cabrera pitched five innings of scoreless baseball ( 5 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s ) lowering his season ERA to 1.35 ( 20 IP, 26 K’s, 4 BB ) and RH Estibenzon Jimenez pitched the final four frames ( 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K’s ) to record his 3rd win of the year. … he’s 3-0 with a save in 7 games with a 0.63 WHIP in 12 2/3 IP.

Tuesday, 8/10 : RHP Jayden Estanista went four innings ( 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s ) and RH Jonathan Petit notched his third win of the year in just three appearances 😳 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s ).

Friday, 8/13 : RHP Giuseppe Velasquez pitched five innings of scoreless baseball ( 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K’s ) … RH Daniel Mejia ( 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K’s ) and RHP Eiberson Castellano ( 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K ) finished a 3-0 shutout victory against Brewers1.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️